Tomorrow: Cleanup in South Park

Probably one of the worst things about living in a major city is the trash. LA probably has more than its fair share — around the corner from my apartment is a public trash can that struggles mightily to contain its daily load — but we’re not as bad as some other cities, like New York (which constantly smells of piss no matter where you go) and Dallas (where libertarian building regulations allow middle schools to be constructed entirely of discarded McDonald’s styrofoam clamshell containers from the 1980s).

Of course, part of that is due to the efforts of responsible Angelenos to keep things neat and tidy. Take South Park, for instance — a neighborhood that real estate agents are legally required to refer to as “up and coming.” This weekend, South Parkers (is that what they’re called?) will be cleaning up their own streets, and they’re asking for volunteers to help out.

Because South Park is a Business Improvement District, much of its trash is picked up by a staff paid by a combination of commercial aresidential tax revenues and government grants. But anyone who’s ever been through South Park knows that it’s not all lofts and concert venues. Parts of the neighborhood aren’t covered by the BID; thus the community clean-up.

If you’d like to help out, volunteers are organizing on the patio of J Restaurant and Lounge this Saturday (July 17) at 7:30 AM. After a morning of cleaning up, you’ll be treated to a lunch of hot dogs, chips and soft drinks. If you can’t show up but would like to donate tools, snacks or bottled water, shoot an email to [email protected] or call 213.612.3612.